What YouTubers get sued for
Most claims against YouTubers come from what's in the video. Someone says it defamed them, used their work or showed them without permission. Media liability is the insurance that defends those claims. Here's where they come from and how the coverage works.
Ready for a policy? Get a YouTuber quote from CreatorSure.
Where claims come from
- Commentary, reviews and investigations about real people and companies.
- Thumbnails and titles, which can carry a claim of their own.
- Reaction and remix. Fair use is a defense you still have to argue.
- Music, clips and images you didn't make.
- People you film in interviews, vlogs and pranks.
Many YouTubers also go live or run a show. See insurance for live streamers and podcast coverage.
How media liability works
A claim usually arrives as a demand letter. Your policy pays for a lawyer to answer it, then defense costs and covered settlements or judgments, up to your limit. Coverage depends on your policy terms.
Old work can draw new claims, so CreatorSure sets up your policy to cover what you already published, not only what comes next.
Platform strikes vs legal claims
A copyright strike or a Content ID match is the platform's own process. Media liability is for legal claims: a demand letter, a lawsuit or a settlement demand from a person or company.
Questions
Does media liability cover music claims on YouTube?
It defends you against a rights holder's legal claim. Tell CreatorSure how you use music, and they'll place a policy that covers it.
Does general liability cover a YouTuber?
General liability covers some defamation claims for ordinary businesses. For a business whose work is publishing or broadcasting, like a channel, that part is usually limited or excluded. See media vs general liability.
What if someone steals my videos?
That runs the other way. Fight Back helps you go after them (which CreatorSure covers).
Does it cover videos I posted years ago?
Your policy can cover your back catalog. It doesn't cover a dispute you already know about.
Ready for a policy?
CreatorSure is our creator insurance program. It sells YouTuber insurance and will place a policy that covers your channel and your back catalog.